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Oil Leak from Power Steering Pump or Something Else?
I noticed some oil around the edge of the passenger side of the splash guard and on one of the tie rod rubber boots. It appears that it could be coming from under the power steering reservoir, dripping onto the alternator, and all the way down onto the sway bar link. Is there another possible source for such a leak before I spend the $400 dollars on a replacement pump? Unfortunately the reservoir cannot be purchased separately for the C230 model.
How urgently do you think this needs to be taken care off? Can this wait another week or so until I can get the parts and the car into a covered garage? The power steering level is still above the minimum. My concern is whether the oil dripping could fry the alternator and possibly damage the seals/boots below... Or should I get my indy to fix it first thing on Monday? Thank-you!
After replacing the power steering pump and cleaning up the engine bay, the leak is unfortunately still there.
It looks like the oil may be coming from the vicinity of the fastener highlighted in red (between the bracket holding the silencer box). The bottom of the alternator is covered in oil, still dripping onto the passenger side tie rod boot.
Any idea what this could be before I replace any more good parts?
Hopefully it's one of these problems, as these are relatively inexpensive to fix.
The area around the vacuum pump looks clean, so I don't this is where the oil leak originates. Seems to be just below the water pump and more toward the front passenger side.
Of course, I do have the other two types of leak you mentioned . The water pump appears to be leaking (see all the green/white residue on the picture). I am planning to replace it next week, so should be able to get a closer look at the oil leak area once everything is out of the way.
Cam sensors are also leaking some oil, but it is small and does not appear to be dripping anywhere near. Have these parts on order as well.
After cleaning up the engine, I can see the source of the leak more clearly. Can someone please confirm this is the oil pan gasket in the picture? If so, it appears to be major work to replace unless I can get away with using a sealant such as Permatex...
I cannot confirm if a sealer would make it but I wouldn't use it, and yes I can confirm that taking the oil pan down is not a minor job. I have the instructions to get it down as I looked for it a few weeks ago as I had to resurface the cylinder head, change gasket, and did a lot of stuff on the upper side of the engine, and on the bottom I saw a leak too that could be the 12$ hose (that I'm replacing because it was spitting oil like nuts) or effectively the oil pan.
By the moment I will finish all the upper stuff I'm working on, and if the leak continues after this then I'm pretty sure the source is around the oil pan, and to take it down there is a bunch of stuff to get out down the car.
I cannot confirm if a sealer would make it but I wouldn't use it, and yes I can confirm that taking the oil pan down is not a minor job. I have the instructions to get it down as I looked for it a few weeks ago as I had to resurface the cylinder head, change gasket, and did a lot of stuff on the upper side of the engine, and on the bottom I saw a leak too that could be the 12$ hose (that I'm replacing because it was spitting oil like nuts) or effectively the oil pan.
By the moment I will finish all the upper stuff I'm working on, and if the leak continues after this then I'm pretty sure the source is around the oil pan, and to take it down there is a bunch of stuff to get out down the car.
Just finished doing a lot of work as well trying to eliminate other sources of leaks (cam magnets, engine wire harness, valve cover gasket, water pump, and power steering pump). I originally thought the oil was coming from the power steering pump seal, but it was probably just the fan blowing the oil from the pan gasket all over the engine bay. I will write this one off as preventive maintenance . Let me know if you do end-up taking down the oil pan. My alternator is getting soaked pretty bad. Do you mind posting or sending the work instructions you have on here? I do have access to a lift, but this may be a little too much heavy work for me...
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. The water pump appears to be leaking (see all the green/white residue on the picture). I am planning to replace it next week, so should be able to get a closer look at the oil leak area once everything is out of the way.
. Let me know if you do end-up taking down the oil pan. My alternator is getting soaked pretty bad. Do you mind posting or sending the work instructions you have on here? I do have access to a lift, but this may be a little too much heavy work for me...
